Former Summit County health care exec’s attorney still wants out of porn case

BRECKENRIDGE – Dennis Flint may receive a court-appointed lawyer to help him with charges of child pornography possession, but he must submit bank statements first to determine eligibility. The public defender’s office is already representing him in his misdemeanor case, including charges for child abuse and third-degree assault involving his daughter in 2008.

A hearing on Monday morning didn’t result in any decision regarding Flint’s representation, but he did testify to the court about his lack of income and inability to pay lawyer fees.

Flint has already paid his current lawyer, Timothy Bussey of Colorado Springs, $84,000, but as the case has already been going on for a year with no end in sight, he cannot afford to keep paying the hourly fee of $295. Flint last made a payment to Bussey in October. Bussey has asked that Flint be appointed a public defender as he cannot afford other representation.

Flint, who has been unemployed for nine months, owns two homes with his ex wife that are currently going into foreclosure. He now lives with his mother in Aurora. Flint said he’s tried to get employment in the medical administration field, but due to the nature of his case he cannot search using the Internet. This impedes his ability to get employment, he said.

District Court Judge Terry Ruckriegle suggested the former High Country Health Care CEO seek other employment that doesn’t require Internet access, like retail work or at a gas station. Flint’s only monthly income is $900 he collects from renting out his home in Aurora. He said his Summit County home is currently vacant and uninhabitable.

Bussey said Flint doesn’t have any assets to speak of, and Flint said he will provide bank statements to prove his eligibility for a court-appointed lawyer in the next few days.

Ruckriegle said Flint must provide the public defender’s office with bank statements by Wednesday, and then he will appear again in court at 3 p.m. Jan. 22 to determine whether a public defender will take over the case. If Flint qualifies, Bussey will be relieved of attending the Jan. 22 hearing. Ruckriegle will also rule at the Jan. 22 hearing on whether to suppress and exclude certain information from Flint’s felony case.

A trial for his misdemeanor case is currently set for March 22 pending motions to have the charges dropped.